Zelenogradsk. Not winter winter
Zelenogradsk became the first point in our February trip to the Kaliningrad region, dedicated to the most important event - my birth. What, what and how, I have already briefly described in the note "To Nemetchyna! ". We stopped at a small Kristall Hotel 3*, which is nice surprised me with my comfort for those "three kopecks" that we paid. Maybe the low cost was due to the off-season. So much the better for us : ). For more information about the hotel, if you are suddenly interested in a place to spend the night in Zelenogradsk, in separate review.
View from the hotel window
In general, Zelenogradsk (before 1946, the Prussian Kranz) is a mega-popular resort in the present. Yes, in fact, in the past. About him written-rewritten, spoken-negotiated. I will not reprint historical references. But briefly this: the year 1252 was taken as the basis of the Zelenograd chronology, when on the way from Koenigsberg to Klaipeda, on the outskirts of the Curonian Spit, a village with a tavern, Kranz-Krug, arose. The name translates to something like the Krantsevsky tavern, well, more literally, "The tavern at the cliff", something like that. Times are old and dark. Then Klaipeda was Memel, and there was no Koenigsberg as such, but the three towns of Altstadt, Kneiphof and Lö benicht peacefully coexisted with each other. But that, as they say, is a completely different story. So, of course, the place was inhabited long before the designated date. Both Vikings and knights were different there. . . Actually, there is not much difference for us, it is clear that the city is ancient.
For several centuries the city lived a calm fishing life. Well, a little more tavern business, at different times in different jurisdictions there was something like a customs office. But then came the enlightened years of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when one professor noticed that there were many elderly people among the inhabitants of Kranz. The secrets of eternal youth have been sought at all times. And here the sea, and pine trees, and some special air currents, and useful waters were found. We will not delve into the nuances, anyway in 1816 Crantz was declared a Royal spa.
The pump room is unfortunately closed in winter
During the flight from the Napoleonic troops, Queen Louise, deeply loved by her subjects, stopped in Kranz. And many significant places in the city were named after the queen.
Queen Louise Square
Oh, how good Zelenogradsk!
In the past, the building of the Baptist community. Since 1947 there has been a children's library
Well, like many "girls", I just fell in love with the town, food and squeal with delight. But also my husband, and he is a person, to put it mildly, who is obviously skeptical of everything, extremely, very rarely giving a positive assessment to anyone and anything except me, of course : ). So, this formidable man said that we would definitely return here. And this, you know, is not just praise, but almost a declaration of love : ).
"Spa"
Seriously, the city really fell on our souls. Neat, clean, simple. Some easy and immediately understandable. Resort-equipped, combed. Here they will deal with some long-term unfinished construction in the central part of the town, so it will generally become an exemplary settlement.
Of course, we knew that the Baltic winters would be milder than in Central Russia. But the insidiousness of the Baltic should not be ruled out. We were preparing for the winds and dankness. We flew from Moscow in 25-degree frost. Coming out of the airport, we realized that we went a little too far with the winter uniform. While we were driving to Zelenogradsk from the airport, we had already got used to, one might say, spring surroundings. And the views of the frozen sea became a complete surprise.
Complete calm. Here, just the same, not a breath of breeze.
Almost an iceberg : )
The very next day the sun noticeably "ate up" the white snow.
And the ice began to crumble.
Zelenogradsky Pier:
And this is him, handsome in the night glow:
And the ice, meanwhile, continues to crumble:
But fragility doesn't stop people. Folk fun - jumping on ice floes. It may not drown, they jump right off the shore. But getting wet is also not very pleasant. There are daredevils who go further, to the very edge of the still surviving ice. Rescue services regularly appeal to rationality. At first we thought that the voice was "speaking" in the recording. No, in response to the especially impudent attacks of the galloping, he began to swear almost in a literary language. Everything, of course, is decent, but the true words of the speaker were simply felt, felt, vibrated in the air.
But, it seems, without incident.
Zelenogradsk has a special feature that has been actively developing in recent years - these are cats, cats and kittens in all manifestations.
They're everywhere. And even where you don't expect to see them:
Yeah, and instead of flowers in the flowerbeds : )
Since there is a cat cult in the city, then, of course, there is also a museum dedicated to cat themes.
And this museum is located in the former Water Tower, which once served faithfully for its intended purpose. Then it became not very necessary. But there were enthusiasts and enterprising people who equipped the tower for the benefit of tourism.
There is even a hotel room at the very top. In any case, that's how it was meant to be. But as far as we understood from conversations with employees, the scheme of interaction and neighborhood of guests and guests of the observation deck has not been regulated. Although, maybe everything is already fine by now.
And most importantly, why do tourists go to different towers there - right! – observation deck.
The city gradually covers the ring of high-rise buildings
And the old-timers are standing, holding the line
But in places they are already losing ground
That's probably all about Zelenogradsk.
I repeat, the city made the most favorable impression on us. And even now, when the "sacred" February for our family is approaching again, thoughts arise, and whether to wave again to Zelenogradsk. . .
There are more photos in the album.
From the same trip:
